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A beginner’s guide to Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves’ friendship

Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves perform during the Willie Nelson & Family New Year concert at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Photos by Suzanne Cordeiro for American-Statesman

Despite an age difference of more than half a century (!!), the friendship between neo-traditional country singer Kacey Musgraves and her hair-braided role model Willie Nelson just works. One would say it’s blazing.

Along with their mutual profession of making country music, the pair are famous marijuana smokers. In an interview with US Weekly, Musgraves told the magazine she framed a joint Nelson gave her. On April 20, Musgraves posted a series of Instagrams surrounding by tall marijuana plants, thanking Nelson for a tour and referencing his cannabis brand Willie’s Reserve in a hashtag.

Let’s look back on how the high times came to be. One of the first photos snapped of country’s oddest BFFs captures Musgraves planting a kiss on Nelson’s cheek. He doesn’t seem to mind the Wet Willie (sorry, couldn’t help it) either. In fact, this snap had quite the run as Musgraves’ Instagram profile picture.

Musgraves had a busy SXSW, playing shows at Fader Fort, the Paramount Theatre and Spotify House, and she was scheduled to be the surprise guest at Nelson’s ranch for the Luck Reunion event, when severe weather shut down the show.

Mixing the sequinned glitz of Musgraves with the roadhouse style of Nelson, these Lone Star State natives make for some serious #squadgoals. As the ultimate sign of friendship, Musgraves even gave a shout-out to the country legend with the opening line “I’ve had my picture made with Willie Nelson” on her single “Dimestore Cowgirl.”